Abstract: A re-arming tool for a surgical suturing device is also disclosed. The re-arming tool includes a needle ramp having a leading edge; a needle facing surface; and a trailing edge that is biased away from the needle facing surface. The re-arming tool also has a positioning frame coupled to the needle ramp.

Abstract: A surgical suturing instrument has a chamber for receiving and aligning a ferrule with a reciprocating needle. The chamber includes a plurality of protuberant concave and convex surfaces for positioning and aligning the ferrule within the chamber and the plurality of suture receiving chambers disposed between the aligning ridges for receiving a suture and preventing the suture from jamming the ferrule in the chamber.

Abstract: A surgical rib cutter is disclosed. The surgical rib cutter includes a housing defining one or more guide slots. The surgical rib cutter also includes an anterior arm unit comprising an anterior effector configured to interact with an anterior side of a rib. The surgical rib cutter further includes a posterior arm unit comprising a posterior effector configured to interact with a posterior side of said rib. The surgical rib cutter also has an actuator movable relative to the housing and operationally coupled to at least one of the anterior and posterior arm units to move said at least one of the anterior and posterior arm units within at least one of the one or more guide slots to create a relative movement between the anterior and posterior arm units, said relative movement causing one of the anterior effector or the posterior effector to create a green stick break in said rib.

Abstract: A surgical clamp jaw is disclosed, having an inner profile and a deflection control profile opposite the inner profile. In one embodiment, the inner profile has a first substantially concave profile in an unclamped position and a second substantially flat profile in a clamped position. In one embodiment, the deflection control profile has one or more sets of corresponding abutment surfaces, at least one set of which is not contacting each other when the inner profile is in the unclamped position and which is contacting each other when the inner profile is in the clamped position. In one embodiment, the surgical clamp jaw defines one or more flexion assistance voids, wherein at least one of the one or more flexion assistance voids is in contact with a gap between one of the one or more sets of corresponding abutment surfaces.

Abstract: A depth limiter for surgical suturing is disclosed. The depth limiter has a tissue stop. The depth limiter also has at least one attachment point coupled to the tissue stop and configured to removably engage a surgical suturing device to position the tissue stop relative to a tissue bite area of the surgical suturing device. A further depth limiter for surgical suturing is disclosed. The depth limiter has a tissue stop. The depth limiter also has at least one attachment point coupled to the tissue stop and configured to engage a surgical suturing device to position the tissue stop relative to a tissue bite area of the surgical suturing device.

Abstract: A needle assembly for pleural space insufflation is disclosed. The needle assembly has an outer shaft defining one or more pliable tissue receivers. The needle assembly also has a needle moveable within the outer shaft from a retracted position to an engaged position that does not extend past a distal end of the outer shaft. A method of pleural space insufflation is also disclosed. A parietal pleura is contacted with a distal end of an outer shaft that defines one or more pliable tissue receivers. The distal end of the outer shaft is pushed against the parietal pleura so that a portion of the parietal pleura enters the one or more pliable tissue receivers. A needle is advanced within the outer shaft so that the needle pierces the parietal pleura.

Abstract: A self-articulating joint is disclosed for a minimally invasive surgical apparatus. The self-articulating joint has a first elbow component pivotably coupled to a second elbow component, wherein the first and second elbow components are biased to form a non-linear angle relative to each other. The self-articulating joint also has an elbow latch configured to releasably hold the first and second elbow components at a substantially fixed non-linear operating angle.

Abstract: A uterine manipulator includes a sound and a body. The sound has a selectively actuatable anchor disposed proximate a distal end and an operating mechanism spaced from the anchor for controlling actuation of the anchor. The body has a passage therethrough adapted to receive the sound passed proximally through the body to a position in which the operating mechanism is accessible proximally of the body and the anchor extends distally of the body.

Abstract: A surgical assembly is disclosed. The assembly has a cannula. The cannula has an oblong opening on a proximal end, one or more textured features on an outside, and a stabilizer at the proximal end. The assembly also has an obturator sized to fit within the cannula from the proximal end of the cannula. The obturator has a tapered end configured to extend from the distal end of the cannula and a protrusion on a proximal end of the obturator configured to engage a portion of the cannula.

Abstract: A surgical rib refractor is disclosed. The surgical rib retractor includes a housing having at least one cam surface. The surgical rib retractor also includes an anterior arm unit configured to receive one rib. The surgical rib retractor further includes a posterior arm unit configured to receive another rib. The surgical rib retractor also has an actuator movable relative to the housing and operationally coupled to at least one of the anterior and posterior arm units to move said at least one of the anterior and posterior arm units against the at least one cam surface to create a relative movement between the anterior and posterior arm units, said relative movement comprising at least two directional components.

Abstract: A percuscopic access device is disclosed. The percuscopic access device has a hollow shaft with a proximal opening and a distal opening. The percuscopic access device also has one or more barrier ridges on the outside of the hollow shaft. The percuscopic access device also has one or more recesses on the inside of the hollow shaft and in communication with the distal opening. A cleaning obturator for use with the percuscopic access device is also disclosed. The cleaning obturator and percuscopic access device may be combined as a surgical apparatus. The cleaning obturator has a guide rod having a proximal end and a distal end. The cleaning obturator also has a plugging tip on the distal end. The cleaning obturator further has one or more swab guides proximal to the plugging tip.

Abstract: A method of passing suture through a pledget is disclosed. A first suture tail is passed through a first suture engaging loop extending out of a first aperture in the pledget on a distal side of the pledget. A second suture tail is passed through a second suture engaging loop extending out of a second aperture in the pledget on the distal side of the pledget. The first and second suture tails are drawn proximally through their respective pledget apertures by pulling a handle coupled to the first and second suture engaging loops on a proximal side of the pledget.

Abstract: A system for evaluating surgical knot formation is disclosed. The system includes a first surgically relevant object, a pressure sensor, and at least one pair of suture ends passing through the pressure sensor and the first surgically relevant object. The system also includes a controller coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to 1) transform signals from the pressure sensor into a pressure map having pressure magnitudes from a plurality of locations on the pressure sensor corresponding to one or more knots which may be formed in the at least one pair of suture ends; and 2) format the pressure map for display.

Abstract: An apparatus for gastric bypass is disclosed. The apparatus for gastric bypass includes a primary passage having an input and an output. The apparatus also includes a bypass conduit, coupled to the primary passage, having an input and an output, wherein the passage input is interspersed with the conduit input. The apparatus further has a primary regulator coupled to the primary passage and adjustable to control a primary flow profile from the input to the output of the primary passage. The apparatus also has a bypass regulator coupled to the bypass conduit and adjustable to control a bypass flow profile from the input to the output of the bypass conduit.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical suturing device has a shaft; a needle slideably coupled to the shaft and having a ferrule engaging end; and a guide tip having a ferrule receiving aperture and moveably coupled to the shaft for selectable movement between a retracted position and an enabled position. In a related method, a distal shaft end, having a guide tip in a retracted position, is passed through a minimally invasive entry point and into a body cavity. The guide tip having a ferrule receiving aperture is actuated into an enabled position such that an insertion profile of the guide tip and shaft in the enabled position is larger than an access dimension of the minimally invasive entry point. A needle, slideably coupled to the shaft and having a ferrule engaging end, is advanced on a path substantially parallel to the shaft, toward and in alignment with the ferrule receiving aperture.

Abstract: A self-articulating joint is disclosed for a minimally invasive surgical apparatus. The self-articulating joint has a first elbow component pivotably coupled to a second elbow component, wherein the first and second elbow components are biased to form a non-linear angle relative to each other. The self-articulating joint also has an elbow latch configured to releasably hold the first and second elbow components at a substantially fixed non-linear operating angle.

Abstract: A surgical suturing device has a guide tip defining cuff receiving and tissue bite areas. The guide tip has at least one needle guide configured to guide at least one needle through the cuff receiving area and the tissue bite area. Another surgical suturing device has a guide tip defining cuff receiving and tissue bite areas. The guide tip has at least one pair of needle guides configured to guide both the needles of at least one pair of needles through the cuff receiving area and the tissue bite area. The guide tip also has at least one pair of ferrule receiving apertures. The cuff receiving area and the tissue bite area are oriented to avoid cross-over of a suture passed by the at least one pair of needles through tissue in the tissue bite area and a replacement anatomical device sewing cuff in the cuff receiving area.

Abstract: A surgical device has first and second clamp jaws, at least one of which is pivotable relative to the other. The surgical device also has first and second locking suture guides configured to receive at least one locking suture for knotting to hold the first and second clamp jaws in a clamped position.

Abstract: A surgical clamp jaw is disclosed, having an inner profile and a deflection control profile opposite the inner profile. In one embodiment, the inner profile has a first substantially concave profile in an unclamped position and a second substantially flat profile in a clamped position. In one embodiment, the deflection control profile has one or more sets of corresponding abutment surfaces, at least one set of which is not contacting each other when the inner profile is in the unclamped position and which is contacting each other when the inner profile is in the clamped position. In one embodiment, the surgical clamp jaw defines one or more flexion assistance voids, wherein at least one of the one or more flexion assistance voids is in contact with a gap between one of the one or more sets of corresponding abutment surfaces.